Yuzvendra Chahal stars as Punjab Kings defend IPL's lowest total of 111

Chahal’s match-winning 4-28 stuns Kolkata as Punjab Kings pull off historic IPL defense.

Punjab Kings' Yuzvendra Chahal (second right) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Kolkata Knight Riders' Rinku Singh (left) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 match at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium near Chandigarh on April 15, 2025. Photo by Shammi Mehra/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a match that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable turnarounds in IPL history, Yuzvendra Chahal starred as Punjab Kings defended IPL's lowest total, successfully thwarting a powerful Kolkata Knight Riders batting line-up. Chahal returned with extraordinary bowling figures of 4-28 to secure a 16-run win for Punjab in a thriller played at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

It wasn’t just a win—it was a defiant stand, a show of grit and willpower by a team that looked down and out after being bowled out for a mere 111 in 15.3 overs. Chahal’s four-wicket spell broke the backbone of Kolkata’s chase and helped Punjab etch their name in the record books by defending the lowest total in IPL history, surpassing the 116 that Chennai Super Kings had once held as the lowest total defended.

Kolkata start strong but crumble to Chahal's spin

At one stage, Kolkata looked comfortable at 62-2, cruising toward what seemed like a routine win. But Chahal’s match-winning spell turned the game on its head. Kolkata collapsed dramatically to 95 all out in 15.1 overs, unable to cope with the relentless spin attack and sharp field placements.

Ajinkya Rahane, leading the Knight Riders, was trapped lbw by Chahal in a decision that was not reviewed despite ball tracker later suggesting it may have missed the stumps. His dismissal marked a turning point in the match. “Pretty disappointed with the effort,” Rahane admitted after the game. “I'll take the blame, played the wrong shot, although it was missing.”

Chahal followed up with the wicket of Angkrish Raghuvanshi in the very next over. Raghuvanshi had looked solid for his 37, but Punjab's energy on the field shifted dramatically once he was sent back. Glenn Maxwell then added to the chaos by trapping Venkatesh Iyer lbw for seven, keeping Punjab’s hopes alive.

But it was Chahal's two wickets in two balls—Rinku Singh stumped and Ramandeep Singh dismissed for a golden duck—that blew the chase wide open. Harshit Rana survived the hat-trick ball, but the damage was already done.

Russell’s fight not enough to save Kolkata

Andre Russell tried to inject some hope into Kolkata’s innings. From 79-8, he attempted a heroic comeback, smashing two sixes and a four off Chahal. But even he couldn’t carry the weight of the entire chase. Punjab held their nerve, and once Arshdeep Singh dismissed Vaibhav Arora, it was Marco Jansen who delivered the killer blow—clean bowling Russell to seal the famous win.

Wild celebrations erupted in Punjab’s camp. For head coach Ricky Ponting, it was a moment of pride and awe. “I have coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win I ever had,” Ponting said, his excitement evident.

Chahal fights through injury to deliver knockout blow

Perhaps what made Chahal’s performance even more commendable was that he wasn’t even at full fitness. According to Ponting, the leg-spinner underwent a fitness test before the match due to a shoulder niggle from his previous outing. Yet he stepped up when it mattered most, delivering a performance that will be talked about for years.

Chahal was rightly awarded the Player of the Match, but beyond individual glory, this victory reflected Punjab’s fighting spirit as a unit. It lifted them into the top four on the points table, marking their fourth win in six matches.

Punjab’s collapse with the bat nearly cost them

The game began in stark contrast to how it ended. Batting first, Punjab’s openers got off to a flying start, reaching 39 in just 3.1 overs. Priyansh Arya looked explosive, smashing 22 before falling to Harshit Rana, who would go on to be Kolkata’s best bowler with figures of 3-25 in just three overs.

Rana also removed Shreyas Iyer for a duck thanks to a stunning catch by Ramandeep Singh. From there, it was a procession. Josh Inglis managed only two runs, bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, while Prabhsimran Singh’s quick-fire 30 was cut short just when Punjab needed consolidation. His attempt to continue the assault ended in disappointment as Ramandeep caught him at point—another wicket for Rana.

The middle and lower order caved in under spin pressure from Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. The last seven wickets fell for just 29 runs, leaving Punjab with a paltry 111. Most watching assumed it would be too little, but what followed was nothing short of magic.

A record-breaking victory and a new belief

The scenes at Mullanpur were electric. Fans cheered every wicket as the improbable became reality. By defending the lowest total in IPL history, Punjab Kings rewrote the script of what’s possible in T20 cricket.

This was not just a win. It was a message from Punjab—a team often overlooked but now showing signs of becoming serious contenders. Their blend of youth and experience, aggression and discipline, is starting to come together under Ponting’s leadership.

As for Yuzvendra Chahal, his display was a masterclass in leg-spin bowling—attacking the stumps, varying his pace, and forcing mistakes. Whether it was deceiving batsmen in flight or holding his nerve under Russell’s power-hitting, he was clinical throughout.

With his tally of four wickets, Chahal now stands among the tournament’s top wicket-takers, and his performance may just be the spark Punjab needs for a deeper playoff run.

Chahal stars as Punjab Kings defend IPL's lowest total—a stunning feat that reminds us why cricket remains the most unpredictable and thrilling of sports. For fans in Chandigarh and beyond, this will be a night to remember, one that showcased passion, resilience, and the unmatched drama of the IPL.